Spurgeon Morning and Evening March 25 PM

Biblical Context

The Gospel of John stands out among the four accounts of Jesus’s life. It comes from the hand of John, one of Jesus’s closest disciples, often called ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved.’ He was an eyewitness to so much, and you can feel that personal touch throughout his writing.

Scholars generally think John wrote his Gospel later than the others, maybe around AD 90-100. He wasn’t just retelling stories; he was writing to Christians who needed a stronger faith, who needed to know Jesus deeply. John wants you to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that believing in Him gives you eternal life (John 20:31). While the other Gospels focus a lot on Jesus’s actions and parables, John gives us more of Jesus’s long talks, His ‘I Am’ statements, and deep dives into who He truly is. He shows Jesus as fully divine, God in the flesh, but also very much a real person who walked among us.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the phrase, ‘Son of man’. In the original Greek, it’s `ho huios tou anthrōpou` (ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου). On the surface, it simply means ‘a human being’ or ‘the human one,’ but Jesus didn’t use it lightly. This isn’t just a casual term for ‘man.’

This title holds a big story, reaching back into the Old Testament. Think of Daniel 7:13-14, where a ‘Son of Man’ figure comes with the clouds of heaven, given everlasting power and glory. So, when Jesus calls Himself the ‘Son of man,’ He’s doing a couple of things:

1. He’s connecting Himself to humanity, showing He’s one of us, sharing in our life and our struggles.
2. He’s also hinting at His divine authority, His future role as judge, and His ultimate glory, just as Daniel saw.

It’s a title that holds together His humble life on earth with His heavenly, eternal mission. It’s how Jesus tells us, ‘I am truly human, and I am truly God’s appointed King.’ It’s how He shows He’s both accessible and awesome.

Jesus’s Intentional Humility

You know, our Master Jesus used the title, the ‘Son of man,’ constantly. It’s something you see over and over in the Gospels. If He wanted, He might always have spoken of Himself as the Son of God. He definitely could have used the titles that show His might and majesty: the Everlasting Father, the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the Prince of Peace. These are powerful, regal names that speak of His divine origin and authority.

But think about it: we see the amazing lowliness of Jesus in His choice. He prefers to call Himself the Son of man. He didn’t chase after the grandest titles for Himself while He was here. He chose a name that placed Him firmly among us, identifying with human flesh and blood. This choice gives us a real lesson in humility straight from our Savior. We don’t need to go after big titles or proud degrees. We don’t need to try and climb social ladders for recognition. Jesus shows us a different way, a way of quiet identification with humanity, not self-exaltation.

Honoring Humanity Through Christ

There’s a far sweeter thought tied into this, though. Jesus loved manhood so much that He delighted to honor it. It’s a high honor, truly, the greatest dignity given to humanity, that Jesus Himself is the Son of man. He used this name often because He wanted to show it off, almost like hanging royal stars on the breast of humanity. He wanted to show the deep, deep love of God for Abraham’s seed – for all people.

Every single time He said that word, ‘Son of man,’ He put a halo around the head of Adam’s children. Think about that for a moment. He didn’t just walk among us; He elevated us by taking on our very nature. He gave us worth, not because of what we did, but because He chose to become one of us. It means that you, as a human being, carry a sacred value because Jesus Himself chose to share in your humanity. Your existence isn’t just random; it’s got a special, divine stamp on it because Jesus is the Son of man.

Oneness and Sympathy with His People

Yet, there’s perhaps an even more precious thought still. Jesus Christ called Himself the Son of man to express His oneness and sympathy with His people. He chose this name because He wanted to remind you that He is someone you can approach without any fear. He’s not a distant, unfeeling God on a high throne, too grand for your little troubles.

No, because He is a man, you can take all your griefs and troubles to Him. He knows them by experience. He doesn’t just intellectually understand your pain; He has actually felt it. Because He Himself has suffered as the ‘Son of man,’ He is able to really help you and comfort you. He gets it. He lived it. When you feel lonely, He remembers loneliness. When you feel betrayed, He remembers betrayal. When you hurt, He remembers hurting. This means you don’t have to explain everything perfectly or try to impress Him. You can just come as you are, with all your messy feelings and real-life problems, and He’s right there with you.

Our Brother and Near Kinsman

All hail, blessed Jesus! It’s so good that You’re always using this sweet name. It tells us You’re a brother and a near kinsman. For us, that’s such a dear sign of Your grace, Your humility, and Your love. He’s not just a King, but family. He’s not just a Lord, but a loved one who walks beside you.

Think about how close that makes Him. A kinsman would step in to help, to redeem, to share burdens. Jesus does all that and more. This closeness means you don’t have to hide anything from Him. You don’t have to pretend to be stronger than you are. He’s right there, in the trenches of life with you, ready to help you carry the load.

The poet captures this beautifully:

“Oh see how Jesus trusts Himself
Unto our childish love,
As though by His free ways with us
Our earnestness to prove!
His sacred name a common word
On earth He loves to hear;
There is no majesty in Him
Which love may not come near.”

This means Jesus doesn’t need us to be perfect or put on a show. He trusts our simple, even ‘childish’ love. He makes His sacred name, ‘Son of man,’ a common word so we can feel free to speak it, to lean on it. There’s nothing about His greatness that pushes true love away. Instead, His greatness, shown in His humility as the Son of man, draws us even closer. You can come near, you really can.